There were rumors since last year about Phil possibly interested coaching for the Knicks.
He never once said anything negative about our players and NOT having interest in coaching for the Knicks.
Rumors were swirling that Dolan/Knicks management had to make the first move by contacting the Zen Master.
I think during Linsanity, he realized how things could be great in New York, if they go well.
It is no comparison with The Lakers, with the attention, Lin brings with his global attention, here in New York.
I agree with his thoughts of our team with Amare/Melo, but why didn't he say it earlier?
Maybe, he actually was serious in taking over the job to coach as a Knick, but didn't want to hurt their value, because he was going to trade them.
He wanted Dolan and the Knicks to make the first move, so he could get the things he wanted, and demand many requests
In which there would be plenty of reasons/ requests...
1) Leverage, he wanted to the Knicks to court him out of retirement. He not only wants $, also the power to make decisions and changes on the roster of the team, and to make trades that would fit his philosophy. He understands that Amare and Melo do not mesh well and will look to at least trade 1 of them, possibly even both. To run any system, you need players
that are coachable and trust the coach. With the Triangle, you need players that are willing to move the ball and plays as a team. They use multiple players that have the ability to post up for position and we only have 1 in Melo. Melo isn't even able to post up for deep position and attack the basket, with Tyson and Amare on the floor. Most importantly, with the post options, comes spacing the floor with shooters, and allowing the team to MOVE the basketball, make cuts, and giving it to the open man.
2) Money, he wanted a contract that would entitle him to the greatness of a HOF coach, the $ not many teams would be willing to pay for a coach that only a few teams in the entire league would even consider. Dolan has this type of $ to spend. Unlike LA, the fans, media, and analyst are not as forgiving in New York. They will look to exploit and create drama out of everything. With the many press conferences, media attention, interviews, post game conferences ( treating a regular season game like its a playoff game) and explanations he would have out of his time, he would look to get compensated for it.
3) Like Dantoni and many coaches, he needs players that fit his system the Triangle Offense, and coachable players. As great as he was, he always had the elite players in their positions, none of which we have. He also had great role players in all of his teams that won rings. He wants to power to assemble his roster that he would be coaching that he thinks would fit his philosophy. If he is going to be taking the blame if the Knicks are successful or not, he must have the keys to assemble his roster to his liking. He would also look to clean the house of the assistant coaches, training staff, scouts, and people he knows, understands, and trusts.
4) Control, he would looking to get no less than $10m a year, possibly $12m and up. He will justify it by doing some of the work of the GM/President of operations, because he wants that money, and the power that comes along with it.
He wants to have input on getting the right players to fit his system. He doesn't want Dolan giving his 2 cents about who to target, who to keep, and why it would or would not work. He seeks power over his bosses, over the GM, president of operations, and the owner. However, this would be a process, something he wants Dolan to understand and accept.
Whether he keeps or signs the players, he needs, it will take time to accumulate the assets he needs. He wants the power to make the final decisions on the fate of the roster, who to extend, who to trade, any future acquisitions, with FA and the draft, as well.
The decision to keep or trade
Amare, Melo, Tyson CHandler, Lin and/or anyone he feels would be able to bring the players he seeks back. Then he has to teach the new players his system.
You can bet he will target players like Odom and other that understand his philosophy already.
Many people forget it took him a couple of years with the Bulls and Lakers, with the Lakers twice after he had to rebuild his team after the Shaq trade.
Even with the All Star power, it takes time for him to implement his system, it does not happen overnight.
6/16/2012 2:01 PM
was suppose too?